Machine for combining sheets



March 31, 1959 L. TRIOLO 2,879,698

MACHINE FOR COMBINING SHEETS Filed Oct. 15, 1957 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I}, E INVENTOR. 5k LOUIS TRIOLO a By ' ATTORNEY.

March 31, 1959 v TRIOLO MACHINE FOR COMBINING SHEETS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1957 FIG.

FIG.

FIG.9

FIG.8

, INVENTOR. LOUIS TRIOLO BY ATTORNEY March 31, 1959 TRIQLO 2,879,698

MACHINEFOR COMBINING SHEETS I Filed.0ct.' 15, 1957 s S hegs-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

LOUIS TRIOLO BY fi /244 H! S ATTORNEY.

MACHINE FOR CGMBINING SHEETS Louis Triolo, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Application October 15, 1957, Serial No. 690,400 7 Claims. (Cl. 93-366) This invention relates to automatic paper box machinery and relates more particularly to a novel machine for assembling and adhesively uniting box blanks and labels. This application constitutes a continuation-inpart of my co-pending application Serial No. 454,059, filed September 3, 1954, and now abandoned.

An' important object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for depositing a cardboard box blank in perfect registry on a wrapper or label with an all-over adhesive coating as the labels are conveyed by belt from an adhesive applying machine, pressing the blanks to securegood adhesion therebetween, then wrapping the longitudinal edges of the label over the longitudinal edges of the box blank and delivering the combined sheets to a box forming machine.

The machine of the present invention has particular reference to the preparation of a" finished laminated blank for a" small box in the nature of a sleeve which is open at both ends and which receives a tray in sliding relation. The box is useful for cigarettes and other small articles.

The blanks forming the inner sheet or liner are cut from a roll of material skived longitudinally to provide for sharp corner sections and these blanks are successively cut and deposited on the labels which are delivered, adhesive side up, on a belt conveyor.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for accurately registering the label, both longitudinally andtransversely, before it is moved to the box blank applying station which deposits the freshly cut box blanks on the label in precisely the same position each time. The label is wider than the box blank andafter the box blank applying operation the combined blanks are pressed and conveyed through a label Wrapping stationwhich folds the adhesive edges of the label inwardly. The combined flatblank is now ready for assembling. into a rectangular box and is conveyed to an assembling machine which forms the subject matter of my co-pend-- ing application, Serial No. 454,058, filed September 3, 1954.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is abroken front elevation, partially in section, ofa machine embodying the present invention, andshow-' inga label platen in lowered position.

Fig. 2 is a broken plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a- View of the label registering mechanism shown at the right-hand end of Fig. l and showingthe platen in a raised position. v 7

. Fig. 4 shows the position of the parts when the label has been registered longitudinally.

Fig. 5 shows the position orthe parts as the label is about to be delivered to thesecond station.

Fig. 6 shows the box blank cutting station.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of- Fig. 2.

tes Patent 2,879,698 Patented Mar. 31, 1959 Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 6 but shows the assembled blanks about to be moved to the edge folding station.

Fig. 9 is a broken side elevationshowing the parts in a position different from' that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a conventional camshaft and cams carried thereon for operating the moving parts of the machine.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic representation showing substantially the shape of the several cams.

Fig. 12 shows details of the barrel cam for moving the carriage.

Fig. 13- is a side elevation of the assembly for operating one set of blank aligning fingers.

Fig. 14 shows the assembly of Fig. 13 in a raised position.

All of the fixed and moving parts of the machine are supported by a frame and the moving parts are actuated by a cam shaft having a number of carn grooves and followers.

The wrapper blanks or labels 10 are fed, adhesive side up, to an intermittently movable conveyor belt 11 in suitably spaced relation thereon. The labels are coated with adhesive, indicated by the stippling in Fig. 2, by a conventional glue applying machine (notshown) which forms no part of the present invention.

For the purpose of retaining the labels immovable on the belt until they reach the registering station at the left-hand end of the belt, suction means are provided, such means including spaced openings 12 in the belt, which latter during travel is incontact with the upper fiat surface of a hollow chamber 13 having a suflicient number of openings 4 therein" (Fig. 3) to provide ample suction in the belt openings. A'suitable source of negative pressure is connected with the chamber 13. The suction is not of a very high order but it is nevertheless sutncient for the purpose.

The belt passes around apulley 15 carried on a shaft 16-, such pulley being disposed intermediate the ends of a vertically reciprocating platen structure 17 mounted on a plunger 18 in a trackway 19. When the label reaches the registering station Fig. 1) it overlies the platen, which then rises and removes the blank from the belt and thus breaks the vacuum.

Transverse alignment of the label is elfected by side rails 21 on the platen structure, which rails are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the label and adjustmentof this distance is effected byset screws 22. The label has a tendency to curl upwardly along its central longitudinal section, due to the Wet adhesive on its upper face and it is flattened out by a series of pins 23 mounted in openings in aplate 24 carried by a bracket 25'. Down- Ward movement of the pins is limited by fixed collars 26 and the pins are free to move upwardly in their supporting openings in plate 24. If there is any transverse misalignment in thelabel this. misalignment is corrected as its opposed longitudinal edges are moved against the rails as the upwardly curled label contacts the pins. When the platen is in: this raised position-there is very light engagement of the pins on the" label because of the need for elfectinglongitudinal registration. at this point.

Spaced fingers 30 are in theraised position of Fig. 1 when the labelarrives at the registering station and the leading edge of the label is. normally spaced from such fingers. These fingersemove to the right. to a fixed position and at the same instant a-pusher 31. having. feetv 32 which underlie the label. has nowbeen registered. onlall four sides.

Platen 17 has a central slot 29 (Fig. 2) to admit a suction nozzle 33 supplied with negative pressure from a line 34. A carriage 35 which carries the nozzle is slidably supported on a rod 36. After the parts are in the position of Fig. 4 fingers 30 descend to the position of Fig. 5, thus clearing the way for suction nozzle 33 to enter slot 29.

The box blank 40 is cut from a roll 41 of heavy cardboard having longitudinal skived lines 42 which extend transversely of the rectangular blank after it has been cut from the roll (Fig. 2). The web of material from roll 41 is fed by a knurled roller 37 which overlies the fiat section of the cardboard shown in Fig. 2 as it passes over a fixed horizontal platen having a forward edge 39 which cooperates with the cutting element which cuts blank 40 from the web.

A knife 46 having a diagonal cutting edge 43 and mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in trackways 44 is raised by a bell crank lever 45 and after nozzle 33 delivers the label to the position shown at in Fig. l the knife descends, by spring means, cutting off a box blank 40 from the web and accurately deposits it on the label. It will be noted that the label is both wider and longer than the box blank and the blank is positioned on the label with the leading edges of each coinciding, thus leaving unadhered longitudinal margins 50 and a transverse margin 51 along the trailing edge of the blank.

The cams operating the moving parts are so arranged that the cardboard blank 40 arrives at the position shown in Fig. 2, overlying the adhesively coated label, shown at 10', before the blank is cut from roll 41. In other words, the adhesive label travels from the position of 10 to the position of 10' just before the cardboard is fed to the position shown at 40 in Fig. 2 and when the cardboard is fed out to said position, a presser finger 52 carried on a vertically reciprocating plunger 53 mounted in trackways 54 descends, thus holding the blank about to be cut from the roll in place on the label and bringing about initial adhesion between the blank and label. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the forward edge 39 of the platen which cooperates with the knife 46 is located on a plane slightly above the plane of the gummed label blank when it is in the position of 10' in Fig. 1. The cardboard in the web is reasonably stiff and when fed an appropriate distance beyond the knife still lies above blank 10'. Pressing finger now descends slightly ahead of knife 46 and presses the central forward section of the blank 4% against the gummed label and the knife follows, cutting the blank 40 from the web but not disturbing the gummed label. In this fashion registration of blank 40 on label 10' is effected before blank 40 is cut from the web. For the sake of clarity the knife and the connection between the knife and bell crank lever 45 which actuates it is omitted from Fig. 2. A presser block 55 is carried on a slide 56 mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in trackways 57, also mounted on reciprocating carriage 35. This presser block has an internal channel 61 leading to the lower surface thereof and this channel is connected with a source of negative pressure through a conduit 62. Presser block 55 has two positions, a left-hand position shown in Fig. 2, and a right-hand position shown in Fig. 9. It also has a raised position and a lowered position. When presser finger 52 descends on the just combined blanks presser block 55 is in the lowered position of Fig. 6. It then raises as suction is cut off from conduit 62 and carriage 35 moves to the right carrying the block with it. The elevated position of the block during this travel enables it to clear presser finger 52 which is still in lowered position. The presser block new descends to the position of Fig. 9 and presser finger 52 now raises since it has performed its temporary holding and adhering function. This provides a clear path for the presser block to travel to the left while in lowered position with the newly combined blanks. During this movement the longitudinal adhesive margins 50 of the label contact the curved surfaces of folding members 64 which fold these margins upwardly against the opposed longitudinal edges of box blank The presser block carries the combined blanks to the final left-hand position as shown at 10" and 40' and, having arrived at this position, the adhesive margins are folded downwardly into firm engagement with the upper surface of blank 40 by the following means. A platen 65 having opposed longitudinal flanges 66 receives the combined blank in this position and slides 70 and 71 (Fig. 7) then move inwardly folding the margins downwardly. The combined blank is then discharged by means of two fingers 72 and 73, the former being fixed and the latter being pivoted at 74 on bracket 75 also mounted on carriage 35. A link 76 raises and lowers finger 73. When the fingers are in the position of Fig. 9 the carriage moves to the left and delivers the composite blank to the box assembling machine.

The means for actuating the several moving parts of the machine in a timed sequence are conventional and are shown in Figs. 10 to 14 and may include a cam shaft 80 suitably iournaled in bearings (not shown) supported on the frame. This shaft may be continuously driven during operation of the machine by any suitable driving means such as a belt 81 driven by a motor (not shown) The speed of the shaft is such as to revolve four times from the time the adhesive label 10 is delivered to platen 17 until the combined, finished blanks are delivered by fingers 72-73 to the next machine.

The first cam 82 at the right has a rise 83 on one face which moves the upper end of pusher 31 having feet 32, and mounted on a pivoted lever 84 to the left. The next cam 85 has a peripheral rise 86 engaged by a roller 90 carried at the lower end of plunger 18 which carries and raises platen 17. Continuing to the left, the

- next cam 91 has a rise 92 which raises a lever 93, causing an assembly 94 to rise and when a pivoted arm 95 carried thereby has risen from the position of Fig. 13

' to that of Fig. 14 arm 95 is caused to tilt, thereby moving fingers 30 to the left.

The next cam moves a lever 101 upwardly to actuate bell crank lever 45 to raise knife 46. A spring 102 brings the knife downwardly on the cutting stroke.

Friction roller 37, which feeds the cardboard roll 41, is actuated by the next cam 106 which has a peripheral rise 107 and which moves a lever 108 having a yoke 109 operatively connected with the friction roller. The next cam 111 has a peripheral rise 112 which contacts roller 113 carried at the lower end of a lever 114. This lever is connected at its upper end to presser finger 52. A spring 116 returns the presser finger to starting position.

Carriage 35 is caused to reciprocate by means of a barrel cam 120 having a peripheral recess 121 and a roller 122 carried on an arm 123 pivoted at 134 is connected at 135 to the carriage. To compensate for the increased and decreased effective length of arm 123 during arcuate travel of its outer end a plunger 136 is telescopically mounted in slidable relation at the outer end thereof. Air pressure means are employed to actuate the three elements carried on carriage 35, namely, to produce upward and downward travel of presser block 55, inward and outward travel of slides 71-72 and downward and upward travel of finger 73. This arrangement comprises cams shown at 124, 125 and 126 engaging valves 127, 128 and 129, respectively. When one of these valves is opened by the cam operating the same air passes into a cylinder, only one of which is shown at 131 which is used for operating finger 73. A piston (not shown) in the cylinder is used for driving the moving member in one direction and suitable spring means (not shown) are generally used for returning it after the pressure is cut off.

One additional cam is shown at 132 which operates 533 a valve 133 controlling vacuum nozzle 3; which is used only during downstream travel of carriage 3 5, In other words, as soon as the suction nozzle has brought the label downstream ,to ,the position shown at 10 in Fig. 1, the suction must be released to permit the nozzle to return for another label.

While there have been described herein what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for applying a wrapper, adhesive side up, to a box blank of lesser length and width than the wrapper, a frame, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement on said frame and means for moving the carriage, a suction nozzle and a vertically reciprocating presser block mounted on said carriage, a conveyor for delivering the wrapper to a position to be picked up by the nozzle, movable means for registering the wrapper prior to pick-up by the nozzle, means for depositing the blank on the wrapper with the leading edges of each in alignment and the remaining margins of the blank unadhered, means for lowering the presser block to engage the blank, the presser block having suction means to pick up the combined blank and wrapper, fixed cam surfaces forming folding means engaged by the opposed longitudinal edges of the wrapper as the combined blank travels to a creasing position and inwardly movable slides which fold and press said edges into contact with the opposed upper margins of the blank, and means for breaking the suction and raising the presser block for the next cycle.

2. In a machine for applying a wrapper with adhesive thereon to a box blank, a frame, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement on said frame, a suction nozzle, a vertically reciprocable presser block, and blank delivering fingers all mounted on said carriage, means for moving the carriage, a conveyor for delivering the wrapper to a position to be picked up by the nozzle, means contacting the edges of the wrapper for registering the wrapper prior to pick-up by the nozzle, means for delivering the box blank for deposit on the wrapper, a presser finger for effecting initial adhesion between the wrapper and blank, means for lowering the presser block to engage the blank, the presser block having suction means to pick up the combined blank and wrapper, fixed folding means engaged by the opposed edges of the wrapper as the combined blank travels to a creasing position and inwardly movable slides which fold and press said edges in contact with the blank, and means for breaking the suction and raising the presser block for the next cycle.

3. In a machine for applying a wrapper to a box blank, a frame, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement on said frame, a suction nozzle, a vertically reciprocable presser block, both mounted on said carriage, means for imparting movement to the carriage, a conveyor for delivering the wrapper to a position to be picked up by the nozzle, means for correcting misalignment of the wrapper prior to pick-up by the nozzle, means for delivering the blank for deposit on the wrapper, means for lowering the presser block to engage the blank, the presser block having suction means to pick up the combined blank and wrapper and moving them to a creasing position, fixed folding means having camming surfaces engaged by the opposed edges of the wrapper as the combined blank travels to said creasing position and inwardly movable slides which fold and press said edges ii in contact withthe upper surface of the blank, and means for breaking the suction and raising the presser block for the next cycle.

4. In a machine for applying a wrapper with adhesive to a blank box, a frame, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement on said frame, a suction nozzle for delivering the wrapper to the blank, a vertically reciprocable presser block, and blank discharging fingers all mounted on said carriage, means for moving the carriage, an endless conveyor belt for delivering the wrapper to a position to be picked up by the nozzle, means for correcting misalignment of the wrapper prior to pick-up by the nozzle, means for delivering a blank for deposit on the wrapper, means for lowering the presser block to engage the blank, the presser block having suction means to pick up the combined blank and wrapper, fixed cam surfaces for folding the opposed edges of the wrapper as the combined blank is moved by the presser block to a creasing position, and inwardly movable slides which fold and press said edges in contact with the blank, and means for breaking the suction and raising the presser block for the next cycle.

5. In a machine for applying a wrapper to a box blank, a frame, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement on said frame, a suction nozzle and a vertically reciprocable presser block mounted on said carriage, a platen for receiving the wrapper, adhesive side up, and provided with side walls for alignment of the opposed longitudinal edges of the wrapper and movable fingers for positioning the blank longitudinally prior to pick-up by the nozzle, a knife for cutting a box blank from a roll of material for deposit on the wrapper, means for lowering the presser block to engage the blank, the presser block having suction means to pick up the combined blank and wrapper, fixed cams for folding the opposed edges of the wrapper as the combined blank travels to a position for creasing the edges inwardly and movable slides which fold and press said edges in contact with the upper surface of the blank, and means for breaking the suction and raising the presser block for the next cycle.

6. In a machine for applying a wrapper to a box blank, a frame, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement on said frame, a suction nozzle, a vertically reciprocable presser block, and blank discharging fingers, all mounted on said carriage, means for moving the carriage in timed sequence, an endless conveyor belt for delivering the wrapper to a position to be picked up by the nozzle, means for lifting the wrapper from the belt and for moving it to a fixed position for pick-up by the nozzle, said means comprising a vertically reciprocating platen to which the wrapper is delivered by the belt, side walls on the platen for correcting misalignment of the longitudinal edges of the wrapper and a pair of longitudinally movable fingers for correcting misalignment of the transverse edge of the wrapper, a knife for cutting a box blank from a roll of material for deposit on the wrapper, means for lowering the presser block to engage the blank, the presser block having suction means to pick up the combined blank and wrapper, fixed folding means engaged by the opposed edges of the wrapper as the combined blank travels to a creasing position and inwardly movable slides which fold and press said edges in contact with the blank, and means for breaking the suction and raising the presser block for the next cycle.

7. In a machine for applying a wrapper to a box blank, a frame, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement on said frame, a suction nozzle, a vertically reciprocable presser block, and blank discharging fingers, all mounted on said carriage, an endless conveyor belt for delivering the wrapper to a position to be picked up by the nozzle, means for correcting misalignment of the wrapper prior to pick-up by the nozzle comprising a vertically reciprocating platen for lifting the wrapper from the belt and provided with side walls for aligning the longitudinal edges during said lifting movement, and fingers movable towards each other which engage the ends of the fold and press said edges in contact with the upper longiwrapper, a knife for cutting a box blank from a roll tudinal edges of thelblank, and means for breaking the of material for deposit on the wrapper, means for lowersuction and raising the presser block for the next cycle. ing the presser block toengage the blank, the presser block having suction means to pick up the combined 5 References i cd n file of this Patent blank and wrapper, fixed folding members formed with j camming surfaces engaged by the opposed edges of the UNITED- STATES PATENTS wrapper as the presser block moves the combined blank ,33 ,944 Dean Apr. 13, 1920 to a creasing position, and inwardly movable slides which 1,793,876 Stokes Feb. 24, 1931 

